This blog is about teaching, instructing and sharing practical applications to navigation, GPS technology and survival in the backcountry.

Map, Compass & GPS

Wild flowers along Fall Creek on the way to the Green Lakes - Oregon

Monday, February 10, 2014

Base Layer Clothing Selections

Fall is in and people are searching for information about selecting the right baselayer clothing for backcountry travel. I wrote this post last January and it's getting a lot of hits again. Time to repost.

Do you know what your
options are when purchasing a new base layer for your next winter back country
trip?

In late November my local newspaper, the Bend Bulletin
(Bend, Oregon) published a supplementary insert called the High Desert Pulse.On page
28 there was a superb article by Elise Gross titled “Cover Your Bases.”

A base layer is the garment worn closest to the
skin.In the past, most outdoorsmen
thought of a base layer as a simple set of “long johns.”The days of cotton long johns are fading.Cotton clothing retains moisture and in
winter provides no insulation when wet.

Ms.
Gross provided a fine discussion of the options of the various base layer choices
available to the hiker.

She states:

“..
Your activity level and the temperature should be taken into account when
choosing a base layer.”

“Fabric
type should also be considered.Base
layers are made of a variety of fabrics with unique properties.”

The following is a brief synopsis of what is available.

·Wool - Merino wool is at the top of my
list.Merino is soft and doesn’t irritate
the skin.Smart Wool is my
favorite.Wool works well in mild to
cold temps.Wool wicks sweat away from
the skin.It dries relatively
quickly.Wool is antibacterial so it
doesn’t start to smell over time as silk and poly does.It’s expensive.

·Silk – Silk that has been modified to
improve wicking is a fine choice (untreated silk absorbs and retains
moisture).Silk works well during
periods of heavy physical exertion.Though it can get too warm, silk works well in cold climates.Silk takes longer to dry than wool or
polyester.Silk can get stinky so
launder after use.

·Synthetics – These are popular big sellers
and big advertisers in outdoor magazines (e.g., Under Amour).Synthetics are fine in moderate
temperatures.Wet material close to the
skin may be chilly until dry.Moisture
wicking is excellent; that’s the big plus.Synthetics dry faster than any other base layer material.Synthetics can get stinky so launder after
each use.

About Me

Avid outdoorsman in all seasons. Always learning to improve my knowledge-base and to pass on lessons learned. Search and Rescue volunteer, amateur ham radio operator, retired Naval officer. I focus on keeping my family and students safe and prepared to spend an unexpected night out. Founded Outdoor Quest in 1998. I teach land navigation (both compass/map and GPS applications), and wilderness survival.